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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Masonic Records Helpful, But Not Rich With Family Data

Donna Potter Phillips The Spoke

Genealogists are always asking about Freemason ancestors. Masonry is a fraternal organization for men that has been around since at least the 17th century, with a worldwide appeal.

Many of us have ancestors who were Freemasons, and assume there ought to be some information on them, if only we could find it.

Although the primary purpose of Masonry is not to compile and supply genealogical information, there is some biographical data available on its members. Masonic records date back to the earliest days of our country and may be found in almost every city and town. These records number literally in the tens of thousands and are a vast untapped source for genealogy research.

Locating and interpreting the records is the purpose of the booklet “Researching Masonic Records,” by John S. Yates, self-published by the author in 1994.

The booklet states information found in the applications varies widely. Applications through about 1900 asked only for the applicant’s name and age along with three references. It was not until about 1930 that a more comprehensive application was introduced, and no family information was required until the 1950s.

The booklet states if a researcher is trying to determine the parentage of an individual, chances are very remote that a man’s Masonic record will contain anything along those lines.

The primary purpose to obtain your ancestor’s record of Masonic membership would be to pinpoint him in a specific place at a specific time. For instance, if you were to learn from Masonic records that your ancestor was a member of a lodge in New Hartford, Conn., and faithfully attended meetings there during from 1876 to 1888, then you can assume he left his mark in other town, county and state records, too.

Yates’ book lists the addresses for all the Grand Masonic Lodges in the United States, and says this should be the first place to begin looking for your ancestor’s Masonic information.

When you write for the address of the local lodge your ancestor attended, include his full name, the town or county where he resided, and the dates he lived there. Do not recite his genealogy; it’s unnecessary and wastes their time. These organizations receive hundreds of requests for such information and their offices are staffed by volunteers.

When you receive the address of your ancestor’s local lodge, write that group for a photocopy or transcript of his file. This request will be granted at the discretion of the lodge secretary who also volunteers his time. Be prepared for failure since many 19th century lodge records were lost to fire.

When writing to the lodge, inquire about its history. Some lodges have written a comprehensive history and your ancestor might be mentioned. He might have played a key role in its formation, and there might be considerable information about him. Also, ask if your ancestor held the office of Master of the Lodge. If so, his photograph might be on display in the building.

Researching Masonic records includes explanations of Thirty-second Degree Masons, a Masonic-affiliated organization known as the Scottish Rite. Master Masons in good standing may join this charitable organization. The titles or degrees are not conferred by the Masonic Lodge, and they will not have any record of them. Yates’ booklet gives the addresses for the Scottish Rite jurisdictions.

The booklet also provides a sample letter and copies of what the record cards might look like. Yates also included drawings of all the Masonic and Scottish Rite emblems.

You may order “Researching Masonic Records” for $6.50, postpaid, from John Yates, P.O. Box 3496, Wichita Falls, Texas 76309.

For more information, there’s an article by the same name, “Researching Masonic Records,” published in the November-December 1992 issue of Heritage Quest Magazine. Author Jill Rueble Hughes includes a list of state lodges and goes into the background for American Masonry.

There’s also “History of The Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Oregon, from 1846 to 1951 Inclusive.” Writing in 1952, John C. Wilkinson was Worshipful Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, and his 450-page book chronicles the history of Masonry in Oregon in great depth. That means lots and lots of names!

So, I would surely agree with Yates that it’s important to inquire about the written history of your ancestor’s group.

I plan to place this Oregon-Masonic book in the Genealogy Section of the downtown Spokane Public Library.

Here’s a book you really can use. Elizabeth Petty Bentley has put together a second edition of her “County Courthouse Book.”

This huge book lists information for 3,125 county courthouses in the U.S., and 1,577 New England towns and independent Virginia cites. It includes current addresses and phone numbers, who to contact at the courthouse, and cost of searches and copies. There’s also dates of county formation, custody, dates of coverage for vital records, probate records, land records and naturalization records.

The book also explains, that in some cases, there are alternate sites for county records.

I tell my genealogy students one cannot work effectively in a given county without first learing about the county’s records and repositories. The “County Courthouse Book” will help you with that homework assignment.

You may order this $39.95 book from Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc., 1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore MD

21202-3897, or call (800) 296-6687 for phone orders. Or, contact Ancestors Plus at Shadle Center.

, DataTimes MEMO: Donna Potter Phillips welcomes letters from readers. Write to her at The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. For a response, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review

Donna Potter Phillips welcomes letters from readers. Write to her at The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. For a response, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Donna Potter Phillips The Spokesman-Review